[Ed. note: This article is Part Two of a three-part series about the intersection of secular and religious culture in Ireland and the effect of those forces on Ireland’s young women. Here’s Part One.] The novelty of television took hold in Ireland back in the 1950s, but a lack of funding and expertise in the… Continue Reading →
A rise in male cosmetic surgery: Welcome to our world!
As bummed (that’s putting it mildly) as I am about the cultural beauty ideals that women are pressured to achieve—and as much as I feel that the average male is sometimes complicit in the ideals’ prominence in our culture—I don’t think the solution is to foist the same restrictions and fantasies on men. Which is… Continue Reading →
Two decades of progress (or lack thereof) in media representation
It was a daunting task. My first mission as an About-Face intern was to downsize a cabinet of media images collected over the course of the last twenty (!!) years into three binders containing the most essential or iconic images. This gave me more than just a little perspective on how the media’s portrayal of women… Continue Reading →
Every time a bell rings, a (Victoria’s Secret) angel gets its wings
Rather than being “fashionable,” the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is a throwback to an era where women were valuable merely as decorations. If every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings, then a lot of bells must have been ringing on Tuesday evening. The Victoria’s Secret “fashion” show aired on CBS Tuesday night…. Continue Reading →
Will male objectification persuade us to check our breasts?
Rethink Breast Cancer harnesses the power of viral advertising with their new app, Your Man Reminder, but is objectification ever OK? In the promo ad, a doctor admits that since “studies have shown that women are more likely to watch a video if it features a hot guy”, he can’t discuss breast cancer with the… Continue Reading →
Former Survivor Contestant Turns Body Image Activist
There are numerous ways to have an impact on how the media represents women. But sometimes it’s difficult to know where to turn. If you’re like me, you have days when you want to take a baseball bat to your TV, shred every fashion magazine in the supermarket, and go on a spray-painting rampage to… Continue Reading →
Cheerios trades whole grains for less you
General Mills is the latest brand giant to jump on the correlation bandwagon, linking consumption of MultiGrain Cheerios to weight loss and size reduction. A recent Cheerios commercial features a run-in with two women at a clothes donation drop box. The first female praises her friend’s weight loss and appearance. The pal attributes her svelte… Continue Reading →
Barbie: The Young Girls’ Ultimate Role Model?
Especially in this day and age, every young girl should have a role model. They need someone to look up to — someone who will validate their dreams, inspire their hearts, and represent all the positive, healthy ideals life has to offer. My mother is my role model, and so when I saw this commercial… Continue Reading →
Negative body talk is alive and well among college women
As a college freshman, I’m constantly being exposed to the living habits of other women. In a dorm, you quickly learn the rituals of college life, both in the academic and social senses. Unfortunately, amidst hectic class schedules and fun-filled social lives, college students are not exempt from the impact of the negative body image messages… Continue Reading →